Does the Possession of Identity Documents and Conformity to Visual Gender Norms Impact the Ability of Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming (TGNC) Adults in the United States to Access the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)?

Background and Purpose: Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming (TGNC) adults are more likely than cisgender adults to be food insecure. Food insecurity in TGNCs is connected to mental distress and HIV transmission. Insufficient economic resources and stigmatizing experiences and practices from ongoing discrimination against TGNC people may increase their risk of food insecurity. TGNC individuals, especially those of color, are less likely to use food and nutrition programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Expected gender identity harassment may deter TGNC adults from receiving food assistance. Biased questioning and practices about their ID validity, consistency, and visual conformance with their preferred gender may cause this prejudice. This study studied ID and visual conformity in US TGNC individuals' SNAP uptake.

Methods: We utilized data (N=27,715) obtained from the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey (USTS). Participants were from all 50 U.S. States, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. military stationed overseas. The USTS is one of the largest and most significant surveys performed, investigating the lives and experiences of TGNC individuals in the US. Participants were queried about their current enrollment in SNAP or food stamps. We investigated the correlation between receiving SNAP benefits and possessing various identification documents that feature preferred names and genders, as well as visible adherence to the affirmed gender or "passing." We employed logistic regression with the inclusion of full survey weight to examine our research inquiries.

Results: Out of the total of 2,536 USTS members, 14% claimed to receive SNAP benefits, 52% of individuals visibly conformed to their declared gender, 32% had their chosen name listed on all identification documents, and 18% had their preferred gender listed on all identification documents. TGNC people who adhered to societal expectations of their affirmed gender in terms of appearance were much less likely to get SNAP benefits compared to TGNC adults who did not conform to these expectations. TGNC persons who have identification documents that align with their chosen name or gender are less likely to obtain SNAP benefits compared to TGNC adults whose identification documents do not align with their preferred name or gender.

Conclusions and Implications: Stigma and discrimination experienced by TGNC adults can impact their choice to access food and nutrition assistance, even if food insecurity is highly prevalent among this population. The hesitation of TGNC adults to exploit available advantages may be attributed to two factors: visual conformity with confirmed gender and having IDs that agree with desired names and genders. The potential benefits of the program may be outweighed by the fear of being stigmatized and discriminated against due to prejudiced and non-affirming practices, both when applying at the local SNAP office and when receiving SNAP benefits at local grocery stores. Agencies and community-based organizations must establish a hospitable atmosphere and integrate training programs that combat prejudice and promote gender affirmation. To address the ongoing stigma and discrimination that contribute to food insecurity and economic hardship among TGNC people in the U.S., it is crucial to implement structural-level interventions.